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Monday, December 28, 2009

Jimmer Fredette drops 49 on Arizona

In what might be the most impressive individual performance this season, BYU guard Jimmer Fredette finished with 49 points, seven rebounds and nine assists to lead the Cougars to a 99-69 win at Arizona.

Fredette's 49 points set both a BYU single-game record and a McKale Center record. He was 16-for-23 from the field, including 9-for-13 from three-point range.

"It's an amazing feeling. It's not like any other," said Fredette, who added that he knew what was in store once he hit two threes in a row to put BYU up 22-5.

"At that point I was looking at the basket and it was looking pretty big. I just had a good stroke tonight, and that's kind of when I thought it could be a pretty good night.”

The win improves BYU to 13-1, while Arizona falls to 6-6. For the season, Fredette is now averaging 21.6 points, 3.1 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game.

For Arizona, the loss marks the first time since 1983 that the Wildcats have lost two home games in December.

Sitting at only .500 with no wins over any potential postseason teams, we could be witnessing the end to Arizona’s 25-year streak of consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. The young Wildcats will need to turn things around in Pac-10 play in order to have a chance.

For BYU, the Cougars are coasting despite a disappointing season from swingman Jonathan Tavernari, who is averaging just 9.5 points and 4.4 rebounds per game after putting up 15.7 points and 7.2 rebounds a year ago. Along with New Mexico, they are the Mountain West favorites.